Editorial Board Guest Author

Mr. Proulx

Chris Proulx

Chief Executive Officer, eCornell

Chris Proulx is the Chief Executive Officer of eCornell. Mr. Proulx became CEO in 2004 after previously serving as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Program Management. Mr. Proulx plays a central role in setting the strategic direction of eCornell. Through close collaboration with senior leadership and faculty at Cornell, heidentifies growth opportunities in online education for the University. Mr. Proulx is responsible for identifying potential new products, and working directly with the faculty and administration of the Schools and Colleges of Cornell University to produce and deliver eCornell’s online programs. Mr. Proulx is a frequent panelist and technical advisor to online education conferences and industry events, acting as liaison for Cornell University. He is a member of the American Society for Training and Development. He is also a guest columnist for several online hospitality publications. Mr. Proulx's background is in the hospitality industry where he was an operations manager and training resource for Discovery Zone, Inc. and ARAMARK Corporation. His recent focus has been on new and social media and their roles in the rapidly changing social learning environment. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.

Author's Articles

Human Resources: An Era of Transition

Traditionally, the human resource department administers five key areas within a hotel operation - compliance, compensation and benefits, organizational dynamics, selection and retention, and training and development. However, HR professionals are also presently involved in culture-building activities, as well as implementing new employee on-boarding practices and engagement initiatives. As a result, HR professionals have been elevated to senior leadership status, creating value and profit within their organization. Still, they continue to face some intractable issues, including a shrinking talent pool and the need to recruit top-notch employees who are empowered to provide outstanding customer service. In order to attract top-tier talent, one option is to take advantage of recruitment opportunities offered through colleges and universities, especially if they have a hospitality major. This pool of prospective employees is likely to be better educated and more enthusiastic than walk-in hires. Also, once hired, there could be additional training and development opportunities that stem from an association with a college or university. Continuing education courses, business conferences, seminars and online instruction - all can be a valuable source of employee development opportunities. In addition to meeting recruitment demands in the present, HR professionals must also be forward-thinking, anticipating the skills that will be needed in the future to meet guest expectations. One such skill that is becoming increasingly valued is “resilience”, the ability to “go with the flow” and not become overwhelmed by the disruptive influencesof change and reinvention. In an era of transition—new technologies, expanding markets, consolidation of brands and businesses, and modifications in people's values and lifestyles - the capacity to remain flexible, nimble and resilient is a valuable skill to possess. The March Hotel Business Review will examine some of the strategies that HR professionals are employing to ensure that their hotel operations continue to thrive.